Fulham's European dreams are still alive, ahead of their quarter-final return in Wolfsburg next Thursday. Yet a convincing second-half display here, in which Bobby Zamora scored one goal and laid on the other, was tempered by a late and priceless away goal for the German champions.

Roy Hodgson's post-match verdict, though, was relaxed. "I thought we played very well," the manager said. "The late goal to a certain extent puts a slight dampener on the performance, but it shouldn't do really. Because if you'd offered me a victory I think I'd have accepted any score."

Possibly. But the feeling lingers that in Lower Saxony, in front of their own crowd, Wolfsburg might just bring to a close Fulham's remarkable run in this competition, which began last July.

What Hodgson saw for most of this leg was his side's tidy style prevail, after the visitors had threatened first with an early corner. A Zoltan Gera shot on 21 minutes was all Fulham had to show from what was a sober opening from both sides.

A Clint Dempsey shot, which fizzed at the fingers of the goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, plus a subsequent effort from Grafite, Wolfsburg's intriguingly monikered striker, moved the entertainment up a notch and as half-time approached a Fulham inquiry into why their own chances of taking the lead had foundered might have centred on the many clumsy touches and errant passes that had plagued their build-up play. Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu were among the chief culprits. Still, as the break arrived, Fulham were by far the more convincing team. Etuhu headed over from a Damien Duff corner and Dempsey shot just wide from outside the area.

Walking off to see his players, Hodgson wore a smile, but he will have offered his team a stern word about ball retention at this level. That discussion might also have mentioned the importance of closing proceedings here without conceding.

Within seconds of the restart the hosts nearly leaked a sloppy goal. First, the defender Aaron Hughes allowed a Wolfsburg through-ball to bounce; from the ensuing cross Edin Dzeko should have scored, after Brede Hangeland strangely decided to jump under the ball. The header from the Bosnia and Herzegovina striker was, though, disappointing.

Dempsey, the goal-scoring hero of that famous 4-1 victory here in the last round against Juventus, replied almost instantly with a shot that was again wide. At least it caused Wolfsburg concern.

That emotion deepened courtesy of Fulham's main striker, Bobby Zamora, whose 18th goal of a stand-out season arrived on 59 minutes. Collecting a diagonal pass from Dempsey, he dropped his shoulder, moved the ball on to his favoured left foot and bent a finish beyond a flailing Benaglio.

The goal had Craven Cottage rocking, but the best was about to arrive and Dempsey again was involved. He passed to Paul Konchesksy, who crafted a cross to Zamora. This time the 29-year-old glanced up, saw Duff approaching and calmly laid the ball into the path of the winger. Duff's slotted finish beyond Benaglio was the perfect end to a slick move.

A late header from Alexander Madlung, however, gave Wolfsburg their valuable away goal. Afterwards, the German side's manager, Lorenz-Gunther Kostner, said his team "were not favourites" to qualify for the semi-finals, a sentiment that was shared by Hodgson.

Fulham face Wigan here on Sunday and their manager, despite West Ham's threat that they will complain after he rested players for last weekend's defeat at Hull, may do the same again. "I don't think West Ham should be picking our team," said Hodgson.